Tuesday will see the announcement of the Oscar nominations — and the DVD and Blu-ray release of the first-ever best-picture Oscar winner.

Another bit of cinematic serendipity: The 1927 World War I drama "Wings" is the only silent film so honored, while "The Artist" — a silent film made eight decades after the dawn of the talkies — is assured a nomination.

Did "Wings" deserve the honor? Does it hold up? A resounding yes on both counts.

As seen on this crystal-clear release, "Wings" has it all — romance, drama, humor, action. And what action. The sky is as much a star of "Wings" as the three principals: Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen and Clara Bow.

How did director William A. Wellman and crew get those dizzying aerial shots? This was before CGI, folks. True, we briefly see two apparent superimpositions against the sky — one of planes, one of bomb bursts. (We also see animated bubbles in one comic sequence set at a Paris nightclub.) Otherwise, we are strapped in the cockpit, high above Mother Earth, with Jack, David and their German adversaries.

As explained in the accompanying featurette, Paramount obtained the cooperation of the Army, and the budget for "Wings" was bolstered with the resulting infusion of planes and personnel. Many real-life soldiers who appear as same in "Wings" actually fought in World War I, which had been over for a mere eight years at the time of filming.

The dogfight scenes are breathtaking. In the close-ups of Rogers and Arlen in the cockpit, rear-screen is never used. You're looking at the real thing. Again — how did they do it?

It turns out that Rogers and Arlen did their own flying. Arlen had some experience, but Rogers learned from scratch. While in the air, Rogers directed himself, holding up one, two or three fingers to denote which take he was filming. (The stress was great; after landing, Rogers sometimes vomited.) Stunt pilots played the baddies, taking insane risks; when one "German" was "shot," the stunt pilot put his plane into free-fall.

In the plot, clean-cut Jack (Rogers) dreams of flying, but tinkers with a hot rod in the meantime. David (Arlen) is the only son of the richest family in town. They're both hot for Sylvia (Jobyna Ralston), though unbeknownst to Jack, Sylvia has pledged her heart to David. Girl-next-door Mary (Bow) loves Jack, but he barely knows she exists. This teen soap opera is rudely interrupted by World War I. Jack and David eagerly enlist, with both training to become pilots for the Army. (This was prior to the establishment of the Air Force.) At first, these hometown rivals butt heads, but they are soon swept up in the camaraderie of the service.

Despite her character's virginal nature, Bow — the sexy "it girl" of the silent era — has a fitting introduction. We first see her peeking out from under lingerie hanging on a clothesline. A moment later, as Bow hops a fence, she gives us a panty shot! (I double-checked.)

Watch for Gary Cooper's brief, though star-making, turn as a pilot who, unlike David, doesn't much believe in good-luck charms.

There are two ways to watch on this release: with accompaniment by organ or by an orchestra with sound effects. The latter may be preferable for modern viewers.

Beginning of the Great Revival$26.95, China Lion

You don't have to be a member of the Communist Party of China to love "Beginning of the Great Revival."

Produced, according to translated opening credits, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the party, Sanping Han and Jianxin Huang's "Revival" is a sprawling dramatic epic starring "over 150 top actors," not counting thousands of extras.

In this depiction of the 10-year span beginning with China's so-called Revolution of 1911, the brisk and intentionally choppy narrative style is never dull. However, as a movie, "Revival" sometimes seems at odds with itself. Beautifully written and acted dramatic scenes happen, but the film soon reverts to its overarching historical narrative.

That said, the viewer is never lost; frequent screen type identifies times, places and people. This seems intrusive at first, but once you're accustomed to the film's fleet rhythm — characters and events fly at you — you become grateful for the info.

There are many fine, albeit condensed, performances, including those of Chow Yun-Fat as Yuan Shikai, who, as depicted, enacts a double-cross to fulfill his ambition to become emperor of China, and Liu Ye as Mao Zedong. As events unfold — assassinations, an abdication, a coup, protests and warfare — Mao tempers his involvement, studies, marries and, when ready, takes part in founding the party.

"Revival" — which has much dialogue about oppression of the proletariat — resonates today, considering tumultuous recent events such as the Arab Spring and the fall of Gaddafi. And whaddaya know? Glenn Beck has something in common with communists; at one point in the film, Woodrow Wilson is called a "scoundrel."

Division III: Football's Finest$27.99, Image Entertainment

Granted, this low-budget independent sports comedy defaults to clichés. There's the by-the-numbers romance, the nerd, the wild house party, the big game.

But it's often hard not to laugh at Andy Dick's off-the-rails characterization of hillbilly football coach Rick Vice, who was thrown off the field for accidentally poisoning an entire Pee Wee team.

Wearing a '70s mutton-chop mustache and clanky leg brace, trailer-dwelling Vice is reactivated to coach a bottom-rung college team, the (ahem) Pullham U Bluecocks. Watching Dick go bat-guano in take after take is a peculiar joy.

"Division III" is a veritable "MADtv" reunion: There's Will Sasso (as a flamboyant sports commentator in a bit that doesn't work), Debra Wilson (underused as the manic cheerleading coach), Mo Collins (as the university president with eyes on a reality TV show) and Bryan Callen (as a reporter). Michael Jace ("The Shield") makes a perfect straight man for Dick as the athletic director. Marshall Cook, 29, co-wrote, directed and co-stars as the bench-sitting quarterback who — cliché alert — gets in the game and wins the girl. Extras include bloopers, deleted scenes and commentary by Dick and Cook.